Former Coordinators of the Grassroots Development Initiative, a political arm of the Peoples Democratic Party in 12 local government areas of Rivers State have pledged their support for the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The coordinators represent Obio/Akpor, Ogu/Bolo, Port Harcourt City, Opobo/Nkoro, Gokana, Bonny, Ahoada West, Ahoada East, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Oyigbo, Asari-Toru, and Akuku-Toru Local Government Areas.
The former Coordinator in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Collins Onunwo, led a delegation of former members of the GDI All Coordinators’ Forum on a solidarity visit to Governor Fubara at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Sunday,
They explained that their decision to resign from their positions in GDI to join the Simplified Movement was in the interest of the Rivers people.
Speaking to newsmen, Onunwo, a former chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, said the key mission of GDI was to protect, defend and promote the interest of Rivers State and its people.
Onunwo added that having freely given their votes and mandate to Fubara, and affirmed by the Supreme Court, GDI has no other option than to support the governor to succeed.
He promised the determination and dedication of the former GDI coordinators to the success of the policies and programmes of the present administration.
He stated, “We want the public, Rivers people and all Nigerians to know that GDI is the group founded by the former governor and now Federal Capital Territory Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike. That group brought him to power in 2015 and supported his ambition in 2019. That group is his strength.
“But today, we and our supporters have decided we are no longer members of GDI. The reason is simple: we want to be with Rivers people. Rivers’ interest is paramount.
“In 2012, GDI’s interest was to protect, defend and promote our brother-in-law, President Goodluck Jonathan, because of our mother and sister, Dame Patience Jonathan; and it yielded good dividends to the state.
“Through that struggle, our brother, Chief Nyesom Wike, became governor in 2015; and in 2019, when Abuja politicians said he will not return for a second tenure, we all rallied around him and defended our votes, and he served for eight years.
“Today, Rivers’ interest is to protect our votes that brought in Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Executive Governor of Rivers State in the most credible, fair and violence-free election.”
Continuing, he said, “We have come to join millions of Rivers women, youths, elders, and other well-meaning people who insist that we must protect our votes to sustain democracy.
“Our concern is that we voted for the PDP and Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and we must protect that mandate with all we have”
He cautioned those fighting the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr Edison Ehie, to retrace their steps, or prepare to face the wrath of Rivers youths, women, and elders.
Also speaking, former Public Relations Officer of GDI, Christian Abu, said the simple message is that the ex-GDI coordinators just resigned to get Simplified, clarifying that GDI has been the vehicle and political structure for the successes recorded in the previous elections in the state.
At the meeting were the State Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Amb Chijioke Ihunwo; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Power, Solomon Abel Eke; among others.
Fubara was Wike’s anointed candidate in the Peoples Democratic Party, to succeed him as Governor of Rivers State.
Both politicians who were good friends before and even shortly after the election and swearing-in of Fubara, suddenly fell apart, leading to a series of fights between them.
However, Fubara had since declared that his administration was not fighting anybody, but preoccupied with delivering on his mandate of taking care of the needs of the people and protecting the interest of the state.
The governor stated this despite the running battle he had been having with his predecessor and some members of the state House of Assembly.
He explained that in protecting the interest of the state, his administration will continue to do what is right before God and men while encouraging a robust participation of the people in governance.
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